The Best Alpine Touring Skis

Alpine touring is a combination of skiing and hiking where skiers hike to the top of a mountain with all of their equipment on and then ski down. It is often a grueling and difficult endeavor that is best accomplished with a lightweight pair of alpine touring (AT) skis designed especially for this new sport. Of all the models available on the market, a few have garnered the spotlight for a variety of reasons.

  1. Black Diamond Guru Ski

    • For AT skiers who want an ultra-lightweight pair of skis, the Black Diamond Guru is an optimal choice. At 178-inches long and thinner in diameter than regular skis, they will easily support and encourage stability of the wearer while providing spry edge-to-edge. Beginning AT skiers and those engaging on longer hikes will appreciate their quick mobility and lightness on the feet.

    G3 Rapid Transit Skis

    • What differentiates this pair from the rest is its unique sidecut that provides more control for the wearer when navigating tricky uphill treks. At just 8 pounds they are sprightly and manageable over long hikes. They come in three lengths: 171cm, 178cm, 185cm; and their tip to waist to tail ratio is 128:91:116. These will easily get the AT skier up the mountain and provide a smooth ride all the way back down.

    K2 Hardside Skis 2011

    • For trickier trails that require skiers to blast through the crud, these handle the toughest terrain and still hold up on dense powder snow. Made by Hybritech they promise an accurate sidewall underfoot and a smooth cap construction to make each AT excursion an exciting one. Best used with soft snow, they are designed for hardcore skiers with more experience trekking.